STEVE Harmison's return to form for Durham yesterday was followed by an extraordinary collapse as they slumped to defeat by Sussex well inside two days.

All out for 80, they lost by an innings and 39 runs and skipper Dale Benkenstein admitted they had little idea how to play Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who had match figures of ten for 37.

"We didn't really have a game plan for dealing with Mushtaq, " said Benkenstein. "We hadn't been able to get hold of any videos to study how he bowls.

"He is really different. You expect the ball to spin away and it keeps coming back to you and he also varies his pace a lot.

"They bowled really well and gave us nothing in the first innings. In the second innings we wanted to be positive and things didn't really go our way.

"It began when Jimmy Maher was out to a great catch then Gary Pratt made a calculated decision to sweep Mushtaq because of the way he was bowling, but it didn't come off."

Mushtaq, 36 next month, felt the strong crosswind helped him drift the ball away before spinning it back and admitted that he still hopes to add to his 52 Test caps.

Durham would be delighted if he were involved in the four-Test series against England and they did not have to face him again at Hove in August.

Mushtaq, who last played Test cricket two years ago and has been replaced by Danish Kaneria, said: "I was very close to playing against England last winter.

But Danish is a great bowler and he's much younger.

"I always believe I have something to offer and playing in this summer's series is in my mind."

Harmison is unlikely to play for Durham again this season if he is summoned for Test duty after leaving no doubt in the morning that he is ready for an England return.

Since returning to first-class action at Trent Bridge last week he had figures of none for 76 in 21 overs, but yesterday he took four for 19 in 11 overs.

With back-to-back Tests starting today and next Thursday England might be glad of a fresh spearhead at Trent Bridge. They then have five one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, followed by four Tests, a Twenty20 match and five ODIs against Pakistan, taking them up to September 10.

After having a catch dropped against Nottinghamshire and another one on Tuesday, Harmison found the safe gloves of wicketkeeper Phil Mustard for his first two wickets.

After swapping ends from the previous evening to bowl from the Lumley End with the chilly wind coming from his right, the early signs were not promising.

He had two off-side wides in his second over, but struck in his fourth and fifth then pinned visiting skipper Chris Adams lbw before resting with figures of 84-13-3.

Harmison returned after lunch and forced Mushtaq to fend to gully. There must now be every chance that they will resume battle at Lord's on July 17.